Available here- four versions of 360° Books to choose from:
Amazon: BUY NOW 360° Books
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360° Book: Earth and Moon by Yosuke Oono- whimsical art for the science and sci-fi enthusiast. Love the UFO abducting the cow!
This inexpensive lab stirrer can be used in many investigations and demonstrations:
From Amazon: BUY NOW Magnetic Stirrer
Click this link for more vortex physics toys.
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Magnetic Stirrer Vortex: whirlpool powered by a magnetic stirrer (like those in a chemistry lab) with a range of up to 2300 rpm. Investigating the intricately changing structure of the vortex in slow motion. More amazing physics with this magnetic stirrer in future posts.
Shelley's art is available here:
From Etsy: BUY NOW Moire Art by Shelley James
also: See Shelley's glass work in collaboration with Mathematicians: shelleyjames.co.uk
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Moiré Kinetic Art: Entitled “Stream 2” this elegant work by Shelley James creates motion animation from Moiré pattern effects of constructive and deconstructive interference. Constructed from screen printed low-iron glass and paper, the bands appear in motion as one moves across the room in relation to the frame, and the size of the bands depend on how close the artwork one is.
Sold on Instagram:
Visit IG: @marbelsincharge
More amazing glass and marble art Click here
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Fumed Spiral Marble: glass art intersects with the physics of optics and materials science in this gold and silver fumed marble by Colby James Boyd (@marblesincharge). Vaporized gold and silver, deposited in very thin films, interacts with light waves via differential refraction, selective absorption, and interference, creating colorful iridescent and ethereal forms within the glass. Spinning this marble on a concave lens showcases its intricate and beautiful structure. Follow @marblesincharge here on IG to see (and buy) his latest work.
Get this precision machined and balanced desk pendulum here:
From Etsy: BUY NOW Double Chaotic Pendulum
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Mini Double Pendulum: the intricate dance of chaotic motion from a simple assembly of two physical pendulums (one attached to the end of the other) with the energy of the system moving frenetically back and forth between the potential energy of gravity to the kinetic energy of motion. Chaotic motion (shown here in 240 fps slow motion) is characterized by extreme sensitivity to initial starting conditions, tiny differences in how the system is released leads to dramatically different outcomes each time. This well made precision bearing double pendulum is made by Doug Cvelbar.
Get similar devices here:
From Amazon: BUY NOW LED Newton's Cradle
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Modern LED Newton's Cradle: the classic physics demonstration of conservation of momentum and energy cleverly updated with LEDs and light sensors that synchronize color with changes in motion.
Get one here!
From Amazon: BUY NOW Balance Pteranodon
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Balance Pteranodon: weights in the forward wing tips create a center of mass below this pterosaur's beak- making a system that can rotate and oscillate about a stable equilibrium condition. No magnets used or needed for this physics! Usually this toy is found in the form of a bird (direct dinosaur descendent). Pterosaurs are not dinosaurs, but are the largest animals to ever fly, and powered flight has only evolved four times: bats, birds, pterosaurs, and insects- in reverse order.
These coasters are almost sold out everywhere: only The Mona Lisa is still in stock:
From Amazon: BUY NOW CMYK Coasters
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The CMYK model and colorspace on Wikipedia.
CMYK Coasters: physics and psychophysics of four color printing demonstrated with acrylic slides that assemble to reveal Vermeer's "Girl with a Pearl Earring". Cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (key) comprise the elements of the subtractive color model used in most color printing. Repost of the “most liked” post of 2016!
I bought this kinetic illusion at the Exploratorium Museum back in 1995. Not sure if this model is still available anywhere. Here are some available kinetic illusions that operate on the same principle:
From Amazon: BUY NOW Spiral Spinner Illusion
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Climbing Sphere Spiral Illusion: hanging by string the rotational motion of the helical spring creates translational motion downward along the vertical direction- however, the ball is often perceived to be rolling upward through the coil.
Vasa Mihich's gallery offer this piece for sale and others:
Gallery of Vasa Mihich
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Acrylic Refraction Art: “Block with Five Colors” by Vasa Mihich. Vasa’s art utilizes refraction, reflection, and color mixing to produce sculptures that dramatically change character depending on the angle from which they are viewed.
Similar ferrofluid devices available here:
From Etsy: BUY NOW Ferrofluid Sculptures
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Ferrofluid Magnetic Tree Sculpture: the 'Nano Tree' by Concept Zero designs using gold colored ferrofluid which can be manipulated with a handheld magnet. The spiky structure is due to the balance between the forces from the focused magnetic fields (from a neodymium magnet in the base connected to an iron rich bolt) and the forces from liquid surface tension on the colloidal ferromagnetic liquid.
Get a set here:
From Amazon: BUY NOW: Resonace Chimes
Wikipedia: Features a nice introduction and helpful graphics explaining the physics of this beat interference phenomena.
Beat Interference Chimes: these aluminum chimes resonate at slightly different frequencies. When both chimes are struck the sound waves interfere both constructively and deconstructively producing the interesting wavering sound called a beat. The beat frequency- the rate at which the sound goes loud to quiet- is equal to the difference between the frequencies of the two chimes. The same physics applies when tuning a guitar using fifth and seventh fret harmonics.
Available for order here:
From Kickstarter: Order NOW Element Enigma
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Element Enigma: a handheld study in material density. Each of the six pieces is a different metal and shape, but are cleverly designed and precision machined to have the *exact same volume* of 6 cubic centimeters- allowing for a direct comparison of the contrast in densities of these elemental metals. From lightest to heaviest the puzzle pieces are: magnesium, aluminum, titanium, iron, copper, and tungsten.
These Light Blox are available in this nice kit from Laser Classroom, a science education supplier:
From Laser Classroom: Light, Color and Shadow Kit
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Wikipedia has a fantastic introduction on the topic of RGB Color Theory
RGB Color Addition: three LED light boxes demonstrate the additive nature of colored light. Mixing Red, Green, and Blue to create Yellow, Magenta, and Cyan. An object casts shadows showing the following mixings: R+G=Y, G+B=C, and R+B=M. Adding all three R+G+B produces White (a little pinkish here as the Red is a little bit bright for complete white balance). RGB color addition is the basis for all computer and TV displays- all the colors you are looking at right now on your screen are made from adding pixels of R G and B in different proportions and intensities!
This unique toy came to me from Germany:
From Kreiselparadies.de: Orbit Spin Disk
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Orbit: spinning disk toy with off-center sphere. Spinning things obey different rules!- its center of mass goes to the top when spun. Very similar physics to that of the tippy-top (a few posts back on this stream).
This inexpensive electrophorus set works great!
From Amazon: BUY NOW Electrophorus Demonstration Set
The container is just the middle part cut from a plastic water bottle, and the "hail" stones are Styrofoam craft beads:
From Amazon: BUY NOW Styrofoam Craft Beads
For Volta's Hailstorm to work, the beads must be coated with a conducting spray (here is what I used):
From Amazon: BUY NOW Staticide Spray
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Wikipedia has a very nice description of the physics of the Electrophorus and how it is used to transfer electric charge.
Volta’s Hailstorm and Electrophorus: electrical forces due to electrostatic charge send foam beads flying in this version of the historic demonstration by physicist Alessandro Volta. The beads are covered with an electrically conductive coating allowing them to transfer charge from the environment to the plate of the electrophorus. The acrylic platform becomes negatively charged when rubbed with a paper napkin, but it is also an insulator so the charge on it can not flow on to the aluminum plate of the electrophorus. Instead the charge on the platform pushes electrons to the top of the plate (like signs repel) and touching the plate results in a spark that removes the electrons giving the plate a significant positive charge that will then attract the beads.
Sold out everyehare it seem. :
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Zero Gravity / Air Stream Levitation: a physics toy employing the Coandă effect- the air stream attaches and wraps around the styrofoam ball trapping it in the center of the stream. As the air changes direction to flow around the ball, momentum is imparted to it pushing the ball against gravity. Gravitational force on the ball is not zero of course, but the sum of forces (gravity + push from air stream) is zero putting the ball in suspended equilibrium.